By Kenneth Jukpor
Freight agents and other cross-border traders have been advised to make constructive positions in a bid to guide the federal government on crucial economic issues such as the reopening of the land borders.
The Area Controller of Ogun 1 Customs Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi made this appeal today while receiving a delegation of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) at his office.
Nnadi encouraged the freight forwarders to exploit their rights to advocacy to make meaningful contributions to the nation’s economy via worthwhile positions on issues such as the economic impact of the closed borders.
According to Comptroller Nnadi, the absence of activities at the border posts may see freight forwarders and other traders throw caution to the wind as soon as cross-border trade is allowed by the federal government, but he advised practitioners to prevent such occurrence.
Nnadi, however, thanked the Idiroko Chapter of NAGAFF for the courtesy visit, even as he observed that the practitioners have been resilient to stick around despite the government’s decision to close the borders.
His words: “The fact that despite the border closure, a strategic partner like NAGAFF is still around keeping faith, goes to show that you believe in the project called Nigeria. You didn’t abandon the land borders because of the turbulence ocassioned by the border closure.”
“The successes being recorded at the seaports across the country is also a result of the diligent service carried out at the land borders. Some of the revenue collected at the seaports wouldn’t have been possible if we didn’t do a thorough job at the land borders and allowed this place to be porous. NAGAFF also contributed to this by partnering with us to achieve this.”
He, however, admonished the freight forwarding group to assist Customs in the bid to checkmate smugglers who are sometimes erroneously referred to as freight agents at the border region.
Speaking earlier, the Idiroko Chapter Chairman of NAGAFF, Hon. Uche Nwabude commended the Customs boss and his entire team for their proactive approach to issues in the region and the high-level engagement with all categories of stakeholders.
Nwabude, who recently emerged as Idiroko Chapter Chairman of the association, assured that NAGAFF would work harmoniously and assiduously to ensure top-notch service delivery, professionalism and compliance when the land border is reopened.
The NAGAFF Chairman also conveyed the commendation of the NAGAFF Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and NAGAFF President, Chief Tochukwu Esizi, stating that the NAGAFF hierarchy had delivered satisfactory ratings on the Customs activities at Ogun 1 Command.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Command’s Deputy Controller, Enforcement, DC W. Ekanem encouraged the NAGAFF team to form a strategic partnership with the Idiroko Customs similar to the synergy observed at seaports and airports.
On his part, the Deputy Controller in charge of APM, DC Adebisi admonished the association to remain intellectually driven and patriotic, noting that the growth of the nation is strengthened by the collective will and partnership of groups like NAGAFF.
